Ladder-truck



(Nq Model.) 6 Sheets-Sheefi 1 El P. STECK. LADDER TRUCK.

No. 379,495. I Patented Mar. 13, 1888.

I I I l w I-l b ggg/ o I .KZ a v (No Model.) I 8 Sheets-8heet 2. E. F. STEGK,

LADDER TRUCK." I No. 379,495. Pater g ted Mar. 13, 1888; Y

, N I I (No nbdel. 6 Sheets-Sheet 3.

E. P. STECK.

LADDER TRUCK.- No. 379,495. Patented Mar. 13, 1888.

' (No Model.)

iiw

E. P. STECK.

LADDER TRUCK.

6 Sheets-Sheep 4,

(No Model.) 6 Sheets-Sheet 5.

E. F. STEOK.

LADDER TRUCK.

Patented Mar. 18, 1888.

ilmrnn STATES ATENT FFEQEO ERNST F. STEGK, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

LADDER-TRUCK.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N0. 379,495, dated March 13, 18 88.

Application filed August 17, 1887. Serial No. 247,160. (No model.)

T 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Ennsr F. STEOK, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Ladder-Trucks, of which the following is a specification. 1

My invention relates to an improvement in ladder-trucks for fire-department service, and is particularly applicable as an improvement in ladder-trucks whereon the ladders are arranged substantially as in Letters Patent of the United States No. 348,594, heretofore granted to me. A truck-ladder of such character must necessarily be a comparatively large structure to enable it to properly supporta ladder, which for practical use must be capable of being extended to a considerable height. Minimum lightness with maximum strength constitute, therefore, highly important matters in such structures, in addition to which the avoidance of an unwieldy laddertruck and the attainment of compactness, so far as compatible with room for working details, form further important considerations. The necessity for general efficiency in a laddertruck involves, however, in addition to all of the foregoing matters, a capability for ready and practically immediate use upon arriving at the scene of action, so that the ladder can be brought into position for use without loss of time. It is also highly desirable to preserve, under all circumstances, the integrity of the laddertruck as a structure-that is to say, to so construct and arrange its component parts and necessary adjuncts that, while any adj ustment or shifting of parts necessary to the raising of the ladder (as well as the readjustment of such parts preparatory to the return home) may be made rapidly and with certainty, there shall be no undesirable detachment of members, and hence no liability of damage resulting from detached parts distributed about the field of action. It is also desirable, in a ladder truck wherein the ladder is fulcrumed at one end upon the truck and brought into position for use by a raising and lowering mechanism, to steady the ladder, and while raising and lowering it as well as while it is upright, and to temporarily support itfrom a rigid unyielding support, in order to prevent such ing desired ends in ladder-trucks and the I provision of certain novel and useful details and combinations of parts serving to increase the general efficiency of fire-ladder trucks; and to the attainment of said foregoing and other useful ends my invention consists in matters hereinafter described, and particularly pointed out in the claims.

The more important features of my invention relate to the drivers seat at the forward end of the ladder-truck; to the steerers seat arranged toward the rear of the truck and placed within convenient reach of the hand steering-wheel; to means for holding down the springs while a ladder fulcrumed at one end on the truck is being raised and lowered; to means for steadying and holding in place a set of pompier ladders and for releasing the same when they arerequired' for service; to certain devices inaladder raising and lowering mechanism such as embraced in my said patent, and to certain details hereinafter particularly set forth.

The ladder, when in a recumbent position,

desirably extends the length of the truck, or,

in other words, the truck is shortened to the shortest length of the recumbent ladder, so as to avoid unnecessary length and weight of the vehicle. The drivers seat, when imposition for use, is supported over the forward end of the truck, and hence over the forward end of the recumbent ladder, from which position the seat can be swung out of the way and be caused to hang in a suspended condition, so as to permit the ladder to be freely raised and lowered.

In this connection a further feature of improvement consists in pivotally supporting the drivers seat upon the ladder at or adjacent to the pivoted end of the latter, for purposes hereinafter set forth. While the drivers seat is upright and ready for use, the foot-board stands horizontal or extended forward from the front end of the truck, but is permitted to drop out of the way when the seat is lowered.

A further feature consists in pivotally supporting the drivers seat at the forward end of the ladder-truck, and arranging it so that when in use it can stand over the ladder, and when not in use beswnng down in front of the truck, whereit will hang practically suspended from the movable part of a turn-table, and

tory to raising the ladder the steerers seat.

can be raised from over the ladder and swung to one side, where it may remain suspended out of the way until the ladder has been brought out of service and placed in a recumbent condition upon the truck. In connection with a steerers seat thus arranged, means are herein provided whereby the hand steeringwheel can be swung out of the way with the seat, in order to facilitate the removal of the hand-wheel from over theladder, which when down lies under a hand steering-wheel temporarily connected with asteering rod or shaft extending up between a couple of ladderrounds.

Means are herein provided for depressing the springs preparatory to raising the ladder and for holding the springs in such depressed condition. Said means consist of adjustable clamps or binding devices arranged whereby they ean be applied to temporarily constitute between the axle and the body of the truck or the support for the ladder a connection which can be shortened up so as to depress the springs, and so hold them as long as may be required.

Other matter-such as devices for holding the pompier-ladders under the truck and a certain feature of improvement in a ladder raising and lowering mechanism wherein the ladder is raised and lowered by rotary adjustable screws-will be hereinafter more particularly set forth.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 represents in side elevation at laddertruck embodying my invention, the ladder in such view being in a recumbent position upon the truck. Fig. 2 is an enlarged detail perspective view representing the principal portion of the forward end of the truck with the ladder down and the drivers seat in its up or standing position. Fig. 3 is a detail representing a portion of one of the sides of the ladder and a bearing thereon, wherein one end of the looking device shown pivotally attached to the seat-legs in Fig. 2 is received and temporarily locked. Fig. 4 represents a longitudinal section taken on a vertical central plane through the forward portion of the truck and drivers seat. Fig. 5 is a transverse section taken through the truck on a vertical plane adja cent to but in front of the rearwardly-arranged st-eerers seat G. Fig. 5 is a detail representing in section a device for temporarily 0 coupling together the two lengths or sections of the rotary steering hand-wheel rod or shaft. Fig. 6 illustrates in perspective the position of the steerers seat when thrown to one side ofthe truck, said view also including the stand I, upon which the seat is hung, and a rest, L, upon which the seat lies when swung over and inverted. Fig. 7 is a detail representing in plan the forward ends of certain pompierladders and a keeper for maintainingsueh ladders in place. Fig. 8 is a detail representing in side elevation one of the pompier-ladders and the keeper for the same. Fig. 9 represents a transverse section taken on a vertical plane through the ladder raising and lowering mechanism and the truck at the point where such mechanism is arranged. Fig. 10 is a detail representing in side elevation aportion of one of the forward side springs and a binding device applied to connect a member of the body-frame with the axle whereon such spring is arranged.

In said drawings, the extension-ladder A is hinged or pivotally supported at one end adjacent to the forward end of the laddentruek, the pivotal or fuleral support for the said lad der being by preference a turn table, B, that can be arranged at the forward end of the truck frame or body 0, as in my said patent, or in any other suitable or desired way.

The drivers seat D is arranged at the forward end of the ladder-truck, and when in condition for service occupies a position sufficiently elevated to allow the driver to sit at the desired height.

In order to utilize the entire length of truck frame or body as a rest for the recumbent ladder and to avoid unnecessary length on. the part of the ti'uck,the forward ends of the sills or side bars of the truck-body are desirably within the radius of the turn table and the baseend oftheladder pivotallysupported upon the latter at points as far forward as practicable, it being observed that by such arrangeinent the ladder can be fulcrnmed forward of the center of the turn-table, while the ladder raising and lowering devices can be arranged to the rear of such center. This arrangement brings the base or pivoted end of the ladder forward substantially as far asthe forward end of the laddertruck. The drivers seat D, when up and in position for use, is supported over the pivoted end of the ladder, whereby the feature of compactness is attained and any prolongation of the truck-frame beyond the turn-table for the purpose of affording a support for the seat forward of the turn-table is avoided. When it is desired to raise the ladder, the drivers seat can be shifted from the position it normally occupies over the ladder. in order to facilitate such shifting of the seat, and, further, to permit its subsequent replacement in position for use without loss of time, and between the time of its removal and replacement to keep it secure from accident, it is pivotally supported, whereby, when necessary, the seat can be swung down and out of the way, but without entirely detaching it from its supporting media.

While the drivers seat may be said to be supported from the turn-table, it is more directly supported from or by the hinged or pivoted end of the ladder, various reasons such as compactness, simplicity, and general efficiency-rendering such mode of support desirable. It is also desirable that the drivers seat should be arranged so that when let down it can be swung directly forward, whereby the turn-table can be turned either way to a desired extent without bringing and jammingthe seat against the truck-frame. To such end the forward legs, (Z, of the drivers seat are made somewhat longer than the rear legs, d, and hinged or pivoted at their lower ends in front of the base end of the ladder, the difference in length between the front and rear legs of the seat permitting the former to be pivotal] y sup ported at a point sufficiently low down to insure a suitable extent of throw or swing on the part of the seat, and at the same time allow the rear shorter legs to stand upon the ladder when the latter is down in a horizontal position and the seat is up and ready for use, as inv full lines, Fig.1, 2, and 4:.

As a simple and substantial mode of pivotally supporting the front legs of the drivers seat, said legs are-at their lower ends hung upon a horizontal pivot-rod, (Z which is arranged opposite the base or pivotal end of the ladder and supported therefrom by brackets (Z By such arrangement, when it is desired to.

shift the drivers seat, it can be swung forward and the ladder then raised. After the ladder has been again lowered and brought into a horizontal position on the truck, the drivers seat can be swung up and back, so as to bring the rear legs of the drivers seat over and upon the recumbent ladder.

As a means for seating and steadying the rear legs of the drivers seat upon the recumbent ladder, the two rear legs are connected together by a cross-bar, d*, which, when the seat is brought into its up position, is received in bearings 11 on the ladder. As a simplaand eflective way of providing a key for temporarily locking the drivers seat in its up position, the bar (i is arranged to turn in eyes or bearings on the lower ends of the rear legs, d, of the said seat, and is adapted with relation to the bearings d on the ladder to permit a partial turn of the bar to lock it within such bearings.

As one of a variety of obvious mechanical expedients whereby the bar d* can by a partial turn be looked upon the ladder, the ends of the bar that are received in the bearings d are flattened and each bearing is made in the nature of a socket or eye provided with a lateral gap, through which the flattened end of the bar can enter edgewise, but not otherwise. Hence when the bar is in condition to present its flattened ends edgewise to the entrances of bearings (2 as in dotted lines, Fig. 3, said ends can enter the bearings, while after such ends have entered the bearings a slight turn of the bar will bring the wide sides of its flattened ends opposite the gaps or entrances to the bearings, and thus effectively lock the bar therein, as in full lines, said Fig. 3. In order to hold the bar against accidental turning after it has been received and locked in the bearings (Z and, further, to provide the bar with a handle for conveniently turningit, said bar is provided with a lateral arm, d, which, upon locking the bar in the bearings d", can be caught on some suitable fixture. As herein shown, the arm d is provided at its outer end with a hook, which, when the bar is locked in the hearings, can be caught on one of the ladder-rounds, as shown in Fig. 4..

The foot-board E for the drivers seat is arranged so that it shall be brought into and sustained in a horizontal position when the drivers seatis up, but be allowed to drop or swing down when the drivers seat is thrown forward. To such end the foot board is hung upon the pivot-rod d and at its rear end corners provided with upturned lugs e,which, when the drivers seat is up, are held by the weight of the foot-board against the rear sides of the frontlegs of said seat, as in full lines, Fig. 4, wherein one of said legs is represented. These lugs therefore act as stops,which, when the drivers seat is up, prevent the foot-board from dropping below its normal horizontal position,and hence serve to keep the foot-board extended forward from theladdertruck so long as the drivers seat is up. When, however, the drivers seat is swung forward, the footboard will necessarily drop with the forwardly and downwardly swinging seat, which, when' lowered to the full extent of its throw, will assume the lowest position indicated in dotted lines, Fig. 4, it being observed that the representation of the seat in dotted lines intermediate of its highest and lowest positions simply indicates the way in which it is thrown forward.

The foot-lever F, by which any suitable brake device can be operated from the drivers foot, is detachably secured at its rear end to a bell-crank lever, f, or analogous device, that is arranged within the circular turn-table and supported from and between the sides of the truck frame or body. This foot-lever F extends upwardly in front of the footboard, so as to be within convenient reach of the drivers foot, and, being detachabl y secured to the bellcrank that formsa portion of the brake mechanism, said foot-lever can be readily removed, preparatory to letting down the drivers seat and foot-board.

G indicates a seat which is arranged just in rear of the steeringwheel H, and which serves as the steerers seat. This seat, when in po sition for use, rests over the recumbent ladder, and is supported so that'when it is desired to raise the ladder the seat can be thrown to one side, as illustrated in Fig. '6. To permit the steerers seat to be swung over to one side of the ladder-truck, and when thus placed out of the way to prevent detachment from the truck, the seat is at one side pivot-ally hung upon a stand or support, I, which rises from one of the sides of the laddertruck. At the opposite side of the ladder-truck is a stand or support, I, similar to the oppositely-disposed support I, but adapted 'for temporarily looking with a portion of the seat-frame when the seat is in position over the ladder truck. When the steerers seat is in position over the ladder-truck, it will be upheld by the stands I and I, and, as a further support for the seat, its rear legs, 9, can rest upon the side bars of the ladder, as illustrated in Fig. 5.

The front legs of the steerers seat are desirably formed by the downwardly-bent ends ofa bar, 9, that is rigid with the body of the seat, as in Fig. 6. One front leg, 9", of the steerers seat is hung upon a pivot, i, that is held upon the stand I, while the other front leg, 9 of said seat is provided with a partially-formed eye, 9', adapted to receive a locking-bar, '5 which is arranged to turn upon the stand 1'. The locking rod or bar 2? is provided at one end with a handle (see Fig. l) for turning it, and can be made to interlock with the eye 9 of the'seat-leg g in substantially the same way that the locking-bar d of the drivers seat interlocks with the bearings (l -that is to say, when the steerers seat is in position across the ladder-truck a flattened portion of the key or locking-bar i will be received in c the partially-formed eye 9*, whereof the gap or side entrance is wide enough to admit the flattened portion of bar z" edgewisc, but not sufiiciently wide to permit the eye to leave the bar when the side of the latter is opposed to such gap or entrance. Henc after the steerer s seat has been brought into position across the recumbentladder and the locking bar i re ceived in the partially-formed eye 9, the locking-bar can be turned to an extent to cause said two members to interlock.

Before raising the ladder it is necessary to remove the hand steering-wheel H. In order to facilitate the removal of such wheel, it is provided with a sectional shaft, whereof the upper section, II, and the lower section, It, can, when brought into alignment, be coupled together, so as'to constitute a practically-con tinuous rod or shaft for operating the steering devices. The upper section, h, of said shaft directly supports the steering-wheel, and may at all times be retained at itslower end within a socket-piece, K, that is in rigid connection with the steerers seat, whereby when the steerers seat is tilted to one side of the laddertruck the steeringwheel will be carried with it, as in Fig. 6.

The socket-piece Kis convenientlyplaced in rigid connection with the seat-frame by a crosspiece, k, with which the front legs of the seat can be made integral or to which a bar bent to form such legs may be secured. The piece 70, which forms a suitable base for the socketpiece, is provided with legs lck, one of which is hung on the pivot 2' and the other adapted to interlock with the interlocking bar i in the same manner that the one of the seat-legs g intel-locks with said bar. Such construction prd vides a forward extension of the seatframe for carrying the steeringwheel, the legs g", g, and k serving as legs both for the steerers seat proper and for the forward extension, which latter, it will be observed, affords space at opposite sides of the middle piece, It, for the legs of the attendant who may be delegated to do the steering.

In order to connect together the two sections it and h of the steering-wheel rod, the upper section, for example, may have a tapered squared lower end, which, when the two sections are in alignment, is received in a correspondingly-formed socket in the upper end of the lower section, it, as in Fig. 5, wherein a threaded collar, h", is shown screwed upon the socket-piece K as a means for holding the rodsection it in connection with the socket, the rod-section h in such case being provided with a flange, hfi'that is maintained by said cap or collar in a seat in the top end of socket K.

lVhen the steerers seat is swung to one side, so as to clear the ladder A. it will desirably rest upon a support or rest, L, arranged at one side of the ladder-truck. Fig. 6 illustrates the steerers seat swung to one side, and consequently inverted, with the member is of its frame resting in a crotch at the upper end of the rest L. This rest is pivoted at one end to an arm or bracket, L, that is secured to one side of the truck frame or body, as in Fig. 5, so that when such rest is not in use it can be swung down alongside the truck, and thus kept out of the way.

The stands I and 1 herein consist each of a rod forked at its upper end and at its lower end bent to embrace the upper and inner side of one of the sills or side bars of the truck frame or body, the two stands being held in rigid connection with such body-frame and connected together by a cross-bolt or tie-rod passing through a sleeve, M, Fig. 5, which at its ends provide shoulders against which the stands can be clamped by nuts m on the tie- IOtl. Short ladders N can be supported under the main ladder A, if desired, the disposition of such shortladders beingillustrated in Fig. 5.

During the raising and lowering of the ladder A the power applied by the operatives to the cranks employed for actuating the ladder raising and lowering mechanism is found, as a rule, to be lacking in positive uniformity, it being evident that where considerable power is applied by manual labor to such cranks it is not practicable for the operatives to apply force evenly throughout the entire circular sweep of the crank. Since the ladder is fulcruined upon a spring-supported base, the variations, however slight, in the rising and falling motion of the heavy ladder will be transmitted to the springs, and cause the same to have a vibratory or undulating action,whereby the ladder will vibrate or move with a proximately end jerky motion that is detrimental to its supporting and operating media.

It is therefore highly desirable to steady the ladder whileit is being raised and lowered, and also to steady it while in a raised condition and subject to the weight of and jarring caused by ascending and descending firemen.

The foregoing objectionable features are herein obviated by adjustable binding devices or spring holding devices P, arranged whereby preparatory to raising the ladder said binding devices can be applied and adjusted so as to depress the springs and bind or hold down the same in a depressed or straightened-out condition so long as may be desired. In this way all motion of the springs will be prevented, and a firm unyielding support temporarily provided under the fulcral support for V the ladder.

Figs. 9 and 10 illustrate the adjustable binding or springholding devices arranged for holding down the forward springs that are located below the turn-table whereon the ladder is fulcrumed. Each one of these adjustable spring-holding devices is conveniently adapted for application as an adjustable connection between the axle O and a fifth-wheel, G which is supported from the axle by the forward springs, and which in turn supports the bodyframe 0, that carries the turn-table B, the result being in effect a connection placed between the axle and the fulcral support for the ladder and made adj ustablein length,whereby the springs can be depressed at will. Each adjustable binding or spring-holding device Pherein shown comprises a sectional threaded rodor a couple of threaded links or rods, 19 and 1), connected together by a right and left threaded nut, 12, that is conveniently provided with radial arms or handles, so that it can be readily turned. These adjustable spring-holding devices can be pivotally suspended from opposite sides of the fifth-wheel C and means provided for temporarily locking their lower ends in connection with the axle 0, whereby after service they can be disconnected from the axle and swung up out of the way. When thus swung up out of the way, the springholding devices P can be caught onto any suitable fixture-as, for example, onto hooks secured to the bolster-frame G, that is intermediate of the fifth-wheel and springs, as in Fig. 10, wherein one of such hooks Q is shown in full lines, with spring-holding device in dotted lines caught thereon.

As a simple and ready means for temporarily locking the devices P in connection with the axle, the latter can be provided with keys, each consisting of a rod, R, fitted to turn in a suitable bearing and provided with a handle, so that it can be easily turned. The lower link or rod, 19, will in such case have an eye for receiving one end of the key or lookingrod R, which latter is provided at said end with a lug, 9', adapted to pass through the eye when in register with a lateral enlargement of the eye; hence,when the device. P is swung down and its lower end slipped upon the key R, the latter can be turned so as to lock the spring-holding device in connection with the axle. After thus connecting the fifth-wheel with the axle by means of these spring-holding devices, the nutsp can be turned so as to shorten up the devices P, and thereby depress and hold down the springs. These devices for holding down the springs could of course be also applied for holding down the rear springs; but for all practical purposes their presence at points for holding down the springs at points under the fulcral support for the extensionladder will be sufficient.

The short pompier-ladders S, (as they are commonly termed,) shown supported under the ladder-truck in Fig 1, consist each of a bar provided with cross'pieces and having at one end a serrated hook, s. Theseladdersare supported upon swinging loops or links T, Fig. 1, and are kept thereon by a swinging keeper, U, Figs. 1, 7, and 8, consisting of a bent rod or bar pivoted at its ends to the truck-frame, and arranged so that it can be swung down in front of and against the hooks of the pompier-ladders, which will be placed upon the supports T, so that their hook ends will be turned up. The keeper is provided along its length with a series of sub U bends, one for each hook end of a ladder,whereby the ladders will be kept from shifting laterally as well as from shifting endwise forwardly, it being observed that any kind of a stop-abutment can be provided for preventing the pompierladders from shifting toward the rear of the truck. To permit the ready removal of the pompierladders, the keeper U can be swung up so as to release the upturned end of such ladders. By such arrangement the pompierladders can be readily reached upon arriving at a fire and quickly removed from the laddertruck.

The ladder raising and lowering mechanism embodied in my said Letters Patentis substantially herein shown, with the addition, however, of certain features of improvement in such mechanism. In the present instance the bearings V, for the raising and lowering screws W, are provided upon the ends of pivotrods V, one of such rods being employed for each bearing. These pivot-rods are journaled in bearings a upon cross-pieces a of the ladder, and have their opposing inner ends fitted to turn on a nut or collar, V as in Fig. 9. By such arrangement the bearings which con stitute the connections between the adjusting or raising and lowering screws and the ladder are swiveled in a secure and efficient manner, and any tendency of undue binding or cramping between the screws and the bearings-V avoided. Each bearingV consists of two parts, one of such parts, '0, being rigid upon and desirably integral with its allotted pivot-rod V. The remaining outer part, 1), of each bearing consists of a cap-plate removably attached to the inner part by screws or bolts. In practice the bearings frequently become clogged-with dirt, and by the foregoing arrangement the firemen-can detach the outer parts 22' of the bearings, so as to clean out the dirt without necessitating the sending of the truck to the repair-shop.

What I claim as my invention is- 1. A ladder-truck provided with a pivoted ladder and a pivoted seat, arranged to alternately occupy upright positions, the ladder being at one end fulcrnmed to the forward end portion of the truck and the seat being pivotally supported to stand over the ladder when the latter is in a recumbent position, but having an extent of swing to permit it to clear the ladder and hang down out of the way when the ladder is raised, for the purpose set forth.

2. In a ladder-truck, the drivers seat pivotally supported from the ladder that is fulcrumed at one end upon the truck, substantially as described.

3. In a ladder-truck, the drivers seat pivotally supported in position to stand over the ladder when the latter is in a recumbent condition on the truck, and to be swung forward into position to clear the ladder and hang opposite the forward end of the truck, sub stantially as described.

4. In a ladder-truck, the ladder fulcrumed at one end upon a turn-table and the drivers seat pivotally supported upon the ladder at or' adjacent to the fulcrumed end of the latter, said seat being capable of being swung from over the ladder and brought into a hanging position opposite the forward end of the truck, said members being combined and organized substantially as described.

5. In a ladder-truck, the drivers seat provided with forward legs pivotally supported opposite the fulcrumed end of the ladder and having shorter rear legs which are temporarily supported upon the ladder when the seat is in posit-ion over the same, substantially as described.

6. In a ladder-truck, the combination, with the drivers seat hung to be swung into position over the ladder, of a crossbar connecting together the rear seat-legs, and bearings upon the ladder for receiving said bar when the seat is in its up position over the ladder, substantially as described.

7. In a ladder-truck, the combination, with the drivers seat having its front legs pivotal] y supported, of the lockingbar (1, attached to the rear legs, and the bearings d wherein the ends of said bar are received and lockedwhen said seat is in its up position over the truck, substantially as described.

8. In a ladder'truck, the combination, with the drivers seat having its front legs pivotally supported, of the locking-bar (1*, attached to the rear legs of the seat and provided with a handle, (1 for holding the bar in a locked con dition and for operating the said bar, and a bearing wherein said bar is locked when the seat is in its up position, substantially as described.

9. In a ladder-truck, the foot-board pivotally supported in front of a hinged drivers seat and means for holding the foot-board extended forward from the truck when thedrivers seat is in its up position, substantially as described.

10. In a ladder-truck, the combination,with the drivers seat having its front legs pivotally supported, of the pivoted foot-board E, provided with rear lugs, e, which are held by the weight of the foot-board against the said front legs of the seat, substantially as ,described.

11. In a ladder-truck, the removable foot brake-lever F, extended up in front of the piv oted foot-board, substantially as described.

12. The combination,with an extension ladder-truck provided with a ladder which is fulcrumed at the forward end portion ofthe truck, of the steerers seat G, arranged in rear of the steering-wheel H, and at one end pivotally hung upon a support rising from one side of the ladder'truck, a support for the opposite free end of seat rising from the opposite side of the ladder-truck, and a locking device for temporarily locking the free end of the seat to its allotted support, said two supports being arranged in height to support the seat across the ladder when the latter is in a recumbent position, for the purpose set forth.

13. In a ladder-truck, the steerers seat pivotally supported at one side of the truck and provided with a bearing for the hand steeringwheel rod, said wheel being supported from the seat when the latter is swung over to one side, substantially as described.

14. The combination, with a spring laddertruck carrying a ladder fulcrumed thereon, of a clamping or spring-holding device for temporarily holding down the spring or springs in a depressed condition, substantially as and for the purpose described.

15. The combination, with a spring laddertruck carrying a ladder fulcrumed thereon, of a'spring holding device, P, for temporarily holding down the spring or springs, substantially as and for the purpose described.

16. The combination, with a spring laddertruck carrying a ladder fulcrumed thereon, of r 15 the spring-holding devices P, suspended upon the truck, substantially as described.

17. The combination, in a ladder-truck, of a spring-holding device, for the purpose described, with a locking device, R, for the purpose set forth.

18. In a laddertruclnthe keeper U, arranged for holding in place the pompier-ladders, substantially as set forth.

19. In aladder-truck, the combination,with the steerers seat hinged at one of its ends upon the truck, of the rest L, for supporting such seat when the same has been thrown to one side of the truck, substantially as described.

20. In a ladder-truck, the combinatiomwith the screws W, for raising and lowering the ladder, of the swiveled nuts or bearings serving as connections between the screws and the ladder and rigid with the outer ends of pivotrods V, that are mounted to turn in bearings their inner ends fitted to turn on a nut or upon the ladder, substantially as described. sleeve, V substantially as described.

21. In aladder-truck theeombination with T the screws, of the nuts constitnting swi veled EBLST STEGK' 5 connections between the screws and the lad- Witnesses:

der and rigid upon pivot-rods V, which are L. S. LOGAN,

mounted upon bearings on the ladder and at EWELL A. DICK. 

